Suns signing Ellie Hampson knocked back a Premier League soccer deal to pursue AFLW

Ellie Hampson turned down an offer to join a Brisbane National Premier League soccer side to join the AFLW ranks.

Part 5: Jacqui Yorston

Part 4 in Suns AFLW profile series: Hammans

Part 3: Groves-Little

Part 2: Hamilton

Part 1: Breward

ELLIE Hampson turned down an offer to join a Brisbane National Premier League soccer side to join the AFLW ranks.

She’d been playing the game her whole life and only started playing Aussie rules when she was 15 but when it came to the choice between the two, footy won.

The Townsville product first picked up a footy when then teacher, now Queensland female talent manager Kath Newman asked her to be involved in her school side.

Ellie Hampson.

From humble beginnings as a fill in for the Peninsula region footy side, the 18-year-old was soon playing for her region before she made the Suns academy and was selected to play for Queensland at the under 18 national championships.

“I was heavily into soccer and touch,” she said.

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“My family was a league family and my brother played so that’s what we watched and we used to make jokes about AFL.

“When I pick things up, I liked to be the best at what I do and my aim was to be the best.”

When Hampson didn’t make the 2018 All Australian side at the national championships, her desire to be the best inspired her to choose Aussie rules over soccer and from that point forward, dedicate her life to getting drafted.

Ellie Hampson.

“I went home to my parents and told them I wasn’t here to joke around and that it’s not social for me anymore and I wanted to play for a living,” she said.

“I had my time in soccer and I put my heart and soul into that.

“I realised what it felt like to miss out.

“I never really watched footy before then but I started watching it every weekend with my step dad.

“It’s hard up north because there’s only a few of you, especially in women’s footy when the league is really small.

“I started doing my own training and heading down to the school with my stepdad and just kicking with him.”

From there, Hampson started flying to and from Brisbane from Townsville to play QAFLW football with the Coorparoo Kings, leading them to a premiership this year all while balancing her role as year 12 school captain.

“It’s probably the most challenging thing I’ve done,” she said.

“It’s so hard to stay motivated in two things at once and switch between your footy brain and school brain.

“I was always trying not to worry about my assignments when I was at footy training and then forcing myself not to watch footy tapes while I was at school.

“There was a three-month period where I wasn’t home for any longer than two days at a time.

“I’d get home, unpack my suitcase, wash my clothes then pack it again.

“I think it’ll help me coming into AFLW because I can take a step away.”

Ellie Hampson during a Gold Coast Suns AFLW training session. Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

In February this year, Hampson’s lifelong dream came to fruition when she became one of the first three players to be signed by the Suns.

In that moment, all the travel, sacrifice and her decision to forgo soccer became worth it as she hunts a round one AFLW debut against the Giants.

“It would be the most overwhelming and exciting news I’d receive,” Hampson said when asked about the prospect of a round one debut.

“Whether I get picked or not, it’ll be something I’ll need more than two minutes to take in.”